Sale News

There was strong demand for South Devons at their recent Spring Show & Sale held at Exeter Livestock Market with some keen bidding for the best bulls that saw the top price exceed £10,000. A good selection of 32 bulls and 13 breeding females were forward, with about 90% of the cattle finding new homes, mainly in the South West. Breed Secretary Caroline Poultney said, "We are seeing a reflection of the quality of the cattle forward, and it's really pleasing to see the strength of demand for both bulls and breeding females."

Female Champion - AI Z Woodhayes Daffodil 59 for 2200gns

Judge of the Show was Mr Olliver Rounsevell from Lostwithiel, Cornwall, whose Highgate Farming Partnership herd is well known in breeding circles. His Male Champion was a May 2016 born polled bull bred by T Kent, Shrewsbury, Shropshire and offered for sale by Roden Livestock from Telford, Shropshire. Z Eyton Trusty 4 is by Wenfork Trusty 5 and out of Z Eyton SAS Dolly 7, with bloodlines including Trevassack, Tregotha, Billington and Betton; and a myostatin status of zero. With Breedplan performance figures in the top 1% for growth and Quality Beef Index this bull was also awarded the Thornton Cup for combined points in performance and inspection; as well as Best Polled Bull.

Reserve Male Champion was Mells Park Impecabull from Mells Park Trust, Frome, Somerset. This January 2016 born bull was the Society’s Best Junior Bull shown in 2017. By Langham’s Hero and out of Mells Park Ariat who was also the dam of show stopper Mells Park Foxtrot, this bull’s breeding goes back to Welland Valley, Trevassack, Billington and Tregondale.

Tregondale Persius 4200gns

Best Pair of Bulls came from M R & R J Rowe, Menheniot, Liskeard, Cornwall with Tregondale Persius and Tregondale Persius 4, both zero myostatin, and by Waddeton Persius.

Z Eyton Trusty 4 went on to sell for 9,600 gns to Mr & Mrs R C Burrough & Sons, Axminster, Devon who themselves sold three bulls on the day. The reserve champion Mells Park Impecabull found a home in Cornwall with J P Matthews & Son, Torpoint who also acquired a bull from the Waddeton consignment.

In the female section of the Show, the Champion was B G & J Z A Dart’s 2 year old polled heifer, AI Z Woodhayes Daffodil 59 by Australian sire Torr Down Marvel 3 and out of AI Woodhayes Daffodil 40. She went on to sell as one of the two highest priced heifers at 2,200 gns, to Mr T J Warhurst, Banbury Oxfordshire who also bought at 1,800 gns a heifer from G W J & L F Pluess, Bude, Cornwall. Reserve female champion was another heifer from the Pluess herd, Trevoulter Dywanna 4 who sold with her twin to Mr S E Bowden from Drewsteignton, Devon for 1,900 gns each, and this pair was also awarded the Greenslade Perpetual Cup.